Overcoming Doubt and
Bridging the Gap:
5 Steps to Launch Your Writer’s Life
By Clarissa Kemp

While you have been dreaming about creating your writer’s life — a life of creativity and freedom — you may not be sure where to start. Part of it could be that this is a brand-new territory for you. And the other part might be doubt creeping in. You might be wondering, “Can this even be done?” or “Can I find success too?”

Don’t let the doubt turn into fear — because you can do this. And today we’re going to talk about how.

To begin, stop and think about your past. Like every adult, you have a lot of experiences behind you: school, work, being part of teams, joining organizations, and volunteering your time, for example.

When you take an objective look back, no doubt you’ll realize you’ve worked hard and succeeded in many areas of your life. Yet now, when it comes to this new adventure of creating your writer’s life, you feel lost.

You may even be wondering why you feel this way. A part of you knows you can do this, but something is holding you back. You’re not alone — this has happened to many people starting a new path.

The solution is to take action so you can be on the road to your version of the writer’s life.

One way is to remember your contextual confidence.

What Is Contextual Confidence?

Contextual confidence is feeling sure of yourself and your abilities in a realistic and secure way within a specific context or setting.

For instance, Vinh Giang, Communication Skills Coach, uses the example of a pianist who feels the most confident when they are playing the piano. But when the pianist moves away from the piano, they lose their confidence.

Contextual confidence can also be the confidence you’ve felt at various stages of your lives. In my case, it took me years to develop confidence in my previous careers in the music industry and retirement services … but I did it.

How did you feel on the first day of your current or most recent job? A little nervous, maybe? Was there some excitement too? After that first day on the job, you had months or years to learn and grow into your role.

You, my friend, don’t lack confidence. Your experience shows you have a lot of contextual confidence. But with your writer’s life, you have first-day jitters, combined with the excitement of starting something brand-new.

As you tap into your past and realize you’ve accomplished so much, let’s take a look at five steps you can take to overcome any doubts and bridge the gap between your present and your future.

1. What is your “proof of concept”? In other words, what will make your writer’s life feel real to you? Is it having a published article or a first client? Ted Capshaw, AWAI’s Chief Success Officer, says there are two components to the proof of concept:

   • Practical: What are the things you need to be doing to get proof of concept? Is it making connections on LinkedIn? Is it sending emails to local businesses that might need writing services?
   • Emotional: When proof of concept comes, pay attention to what ignites inside of you. How does it feel now that you know you can do this?

     For more on this concept, check out Monday Morning Jumpstart: Getting Started Quicker with a Proof of Concept.

2. Take a writing course, attend a webinar on a niche that interests you, or check out a business-building workshop. Get familiar with this new world that’s opening up for you. The more you immerse yourself, the more confident you’ll feel.

3. Submit an article for review. This gets you in the habit of submitting an assignment, and the review could provide valuable insight on what’s working and what needs improvement. At the end of the project, you’ll have a polished writing sample to show potential clients. (AWAI programs and certifications are a big help with this … most offer some type of assignment you can complete as part of your training.)

   AWAI Member Krista Jones took the leap into copywriting and submitted an assignment for a Spec Copy Challenge. “I thought, ‘I don’t know how well I’m going to do, but I’m going to try it,’” she says. “And that’s what ultimately ended up launching my career.”

   Take advantage of opportunities to do “homework” and Spec Challenges to build up your writing muscles.

4. Celebrate small wins. Whether it’s updating your LinkedIn profile or having your writing reviewed, celebrate that you’re taking action and moving forward.

5. Join writing communities. Writing communities can help you feel like you’re not alone. There are others like you who want more out of life through writing whether it’s a part-time income or it’s the freedom that comes from being your own boss.

   AWAI hosts a community called Copywriting Insiders that is open for members of all AWAI programs and is the place to connect with other members, and to get your copywriting and freelance business questions answered. It’s your place to gather, inspire, connect, with like-minded AWAIers looking to create the writer’s life of your dreams.

Think back to your first day of school (high school, trade school, or college). You didn’t know everything on the first day, right? No one did. So you showed up, took notes, asked questions, and did the work. Channel that same energy now. You’ll learn your way around and figure out what works for you.

Use your past as an anchor. You’ve already put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into your previous careers. How can you leverage that experience and knowledge in this new arena? Did you work in technology? Or in the medical field? Or at a nonprofit? To get your start, you can explore writing opportunities in any industry. (You can discover more about how to get copywriting clients when you go here.)

Let your friends know about your new venture. You have months and years of cultivating friendships with people who know your work ethic and attention to quality.

Take Action Now for Your Future Self …

Remember: If you have a dream, you have the ability to make it come true.

Doubt is normal, but action moves you forward. Your confidence will begin to expand into this new area.

Check out AWAI’s amazing resources, but don’t stop there. Before you finish this article, commit to do one small thing to take action — even if it’s to check out content like these free how-to webinars. Topics for recent events have related to freelance writing opportunities, getting clients, and more. Access over 30 hours of free training in the archives, and get started today!

Your future self will thank you because you’ll be one step closer to your writer’s life.